Today we’d like to introduce you to Marvin Ferrell.
Hi Marvin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a military brat, so I moved around a lot growing up. I’ve lived in a lot of different places, but Durham is the place that became home for me. I went to middle school here, high school here, and later continued my education here too. So even though I didn’t start out with one fixed hometown, Durham really became mine.
Before photography became my main focus, I spent years working in downtown Durham as a social worker doing outreach with people experiencing homelessness. That work changed me in a lot of ways. I had my own experiences with mental wellness and struggle, and in that work, those experiences helped me connect with people in a more honest way. I understood how important it was for people to be seen as human beings first, not just as a problem to be solved.
I also have a background in Information Technology, and I worked in that field for a while too. But photography was always one of those things I came back to. It was my first love creatively. Eventually, I started taking it more seriously, and when I began flying drones, something clicked for me.
I earned my drone license in 2021, and that really opened up a new way of seeing Durham. I had spent so many years experiencing the city from the ground level working downtown, moving through neighborhoods, watching the city change , and then suddenly I could see it from above. It made familiar places feel new again.
That’s when I started publishing my photos as Durham_Cool. At first, I was just sharing the way I saw the city, but over time it became something bigger than that. It became a way to document Durham, to celebrate it, and to show people the beauty and character that are already here.
Looking back, I don’t think my path has been as random as it might seem. Social work, technology, photography, drone work , all of it taught me different ways to look closely, pay attention, and tell stories. Durham_Cool is where all of that came together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
I’ve had to overcome a lot personally to get to this point. There were years where I was trying to figure out who I was, what direction my life was going in, and how to survive some of the things I was carrying internally. I’ve dealt with mental wellness struggles, periods of instability, and some hard seasons that forced me to rebuild my life more than once.
I don’t say that for sympathy. I think a lot of people go through things that don’t fit neatly into a success story. For me, the road here involved learning how to keep going, how to take accountability for my life, and how to turn pain into something useful instead of letting it define me.
Working in social services also shaped me deeply. Being around people who were dealing with homelessness, trauma, addiction, poverty, and mental health challenges reminded me every day that people are more than the worst thing they’ve been through. That was true for the people I served, and it was true for me too.
Photography became part of my healing and part of my purpose. It gave me a way to focus, to be present, and to see beauty in places I had walked past a thousand times. Durham_Cool came out of that, not from a perfect life, but from a real one.
So no i cant say that the road was smooth. But I think the rough parts are part of why I see people and places the way I do now. They gave me more compassion, more patience, and a deeper appreciation for the fact that we can still create something meaningful after difficult chapters.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work focuses on photography, drone photography, and visual storytelling, especially about Durham and its surrounding areas. I capture the city both from the ground and in the air, aiming to express the essence of a place, not just its appearance.
Many people recognize my work through Durham_Cool, where I share photos of Durham’s skyline, neighborhoods, landmarks, events, streets, and everyday moments. I’m fascinated by how the city changes with the light, weather, season, or even the mood of the day. Sometimes, I take dramatic drone shots over downtown. Other times, I focus on a quiet street scene or a familiar building seen from a new perspective.
I specialize in photography that feels tied to the location. Durham has a lot of character, and I strive to show that honestly. I’m interested in both the beauty and the texture the old buildings, new growth, people, history, grit, and creativity that define the city.
I take pride in helping people see Durham in a new light. Occasionally, someone will recognize a place they pass daily and say they never noticed it that way before. That means a lot to me. I believe photography can encourage people to slow down and appreciate their surroundings.
What sets me apart is my connection to the city. I’m not just documenting Durham from afar. I grew up here, went to school here, worked downtown, and built my creative life here. I’ve experienced Durham from many perspectives , as a student, a social worker, someone finding his path, and now as an artist.
So when I photograph Durham, I’m not just trying to create beautiful images. I’m aiming to capture a feeling, a memory, and a point of view. Durham_Cool is my way of showing that this city deserves a closer look.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want to emphasize that nothing we do is wasted.
Sometimes, the path you take feels unclear while you’re on it. There are setbacks, detours, mistakes, and times when you don’t know what comes next. However, when I look back, I can see how many parts of my life have influenced how I view the world now.
Durham_Cool came from that. It emerged from paying attention to the city, walking these streets, working with local people, and going through struggles and healing. It also comes from learning to find beauty in familiar places.
I hope my work encourages people to take a closer look at where they are. Durham is changing quickly, but there’s still so much character, history, creativity, and humanity here. I feel thankful to document even a small portion of it.
For anyone working to rebuild their life or discover their voice, I encourage you to keep going. Your story might still become something meaningful, even if you can’t see it yet.
Pricing:
- They can dm me or visit my IG or website for pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marvinphotography2.zenfoliosite.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/durham_cool/
